What do Americans believe in?

Among all the nations of the world, the United States is unique. Americans have many different skins colors, worship many different religions, and speak many different languages. Thinking of it another way, if you or I moved to China or France, we would probably not become Chinese or French, but if someone moved from China or France to the US, they would become an American.

So, talk to your partner, and list 4 things that you think Americans believe in, and explain your answers (tell why you think that).

Happy 223rd Birthday, Constitution!

Today, the Constitution is 223 years old. It is the oldest Constitution in the world. Think about two of the rights we studied today: habeas corpus and trial by jury.

What might things be like in the United States if we didn't have those rights?

Lowell Mills

Was working at Lowell Mills a positive or negative experience for the "mills girls" of the 1840s? Be sure to cite at least 3 primary sources in your answer.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural

For each of the three quotes from Lincoln's Second Inaugural, do the following:

1. Copy the quote

2. Put the quote in your own words

3. Give an example of how following Lincoln's advice might still be a good idea today in your own life

a. People were "wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces"

b. "Let us judge not, that we be not judged"

c. "With malice toward none, with charity for all"

Andersonville

Andersonville was built in 1864 to hold 10,000 Union prisoners of war. By the time the camp was closed 14 months later, over 45,000 prisoners were living there in squalid conditions, without enough food, water, shelter or medical attention. Over 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville. Captain Henry Wirz, the commander at Andersonville, was hanged as a war criminal. The site is now a memorial to all prisoners of war from all US wars.

Although Captain Wirz was punished for what happened, there are those who think that he was a victim as well. So now it's your turn. Think about what it means to take responsibility. Who was really responsible for what happened at Andersonville?

Gettysburg Cemetery: Paying Honor to Fallen Soldiers

After the battle, the people of Gettysburg were left with the task of burying thousands of war dead. Eventually, over 3500 Union soldiers were buried at the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Paying honor to fallen soldiers is an ancient tradition, and many rules and procedures govern military funerals. Go to the link Union Soldiers and Burial Practices to learn more about how these procedures developed during and after the Civil War. Use these primary source materials from the National Park Service to answer these three prompts:

1. In General Order No. 75, "headboards" are provided for each soldier. What do you think a headboard is? What problem does Capt. Moore find with the headboards?

2. What change does Secretary of War Stanton suggest in 1866?

3. Why do you think that the US government felt the need to bury soldiers' remains in centralized national cemeteries instead of allowing them to be scattered around the country?

Civil War Letters

One of the reasons that we know so much about the Civil War is due to the letters, diaries and journals that soldiers on both sides wrote and kept. More common people than ever before were educated, and they wrote about their experiences and feelings, hopes and fears.

The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) was fought on July 21, 1861. Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island, a major in the Union army wrote this letter to his wife one week before the fighting. He died in the first few minutes of the battle. J.W. Reid was a Confederate soldier from South Carolina. He survived the war.

1. What was Sullivan Ballou's motivation to volunteer and fight from the Union? Cite two quotes from the letter to back up your response.

2. After Ballou's death, his widow, Sarah, was left to raise two sons by herself. If you were in her position, would you support or oppose continuing the war? Why or why not?

3. In your opinion, which of the two letters was closer to that of a typical Civil War soldier? Why?